Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California said Sunday that President-elect Donald Trump “has made no secret of his desire for California” as Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special legislative session this week to prepare for legal battles in the administration from Trump. coming term.
Padilla said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan“that there is “much cause for concern” for the second Trump administration “if the first administration is any indicator.”
The California Democrat cited reports that Trump initially withheld disaster funds for the state during his first term, saying the president-elect was trying to keep federal dollars from California families “simply because it is a state that did not vote for him in the presidential election.” ‘ In September, Trump threatened to block federal wildfire aid for California if he is re-elected.
“We’re trying to protect ourselves from these types of threats,” Padilla continued.
California Democrats labeled the state the “resistance state” during the first Trump administration. And following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Newsom announced he would convene an emergency session of the California state legislature to “protect California’s values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration.” In addition to strengthening legal resources, the governor pointed to protections for civil and reproductive rights, climate action and immigrant families.
On immigration, Padilla said, “We’re hearing a lot of bombast from Trump and his allies about the largest deportation operation in our country’s history.” He said that while “no one disagrees” with a focus on violent criminals, this is “very different from millions and millions of people being deported indiscriminately.” Padilla said providing legal relief to communities that could be affected by Trump’s plans is “just the California way.”
“We embrace our diversity,” Padilla said. “Our diversity has allowed our communities to thrive and our economy to thrive. And so we will help families against the Trump administration’s threats.”
Meanwhile, California’s state law, as a “sanctuary state,” instructs local law enforcement agencies not to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on deportations, which could set off a clash with the Trump administration. Padilla, citing California’s status as the nation’s most populous state with more immigrants than any other state, argued that the issue has to do with the ability for people to come forward to report a crime. report, saying, ‘The last thing you want is immigrants. who may have witnessed a crime should be afraid to come forward and share any information they have in the investigation and prosecution of crimes.”
“Let the federal government do the federal government’s work, but let state and local officials do the state and local officials’ work,” Padilla continued. “There doesn’t need to be a conflict unless that’s what Trump wants.”
More broadly, Padilla said “there is also a lot of good that can be completed” before President Biden leaves office, pointing to climate-related work and additional flexibility for public health care programs to address mental health issues. And the California Democrat noted that there is “a lot of good work to be done” outside the current administration if the federal government continues to support California.
